Cutting machine



Feb. 2s', 1950 w. c. RACHELS 2,498,707

CUTTING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VEN TOR.

ATT 'KS' FebQZS, 1950 w. c. RAcHELs CUTTING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1945 2Sheetsf-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

Ww w n T T. A

Patented Feb. 28,: 1950 UNITED ySTATES PATENT OFFICE .(Granted under theact of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) Theinvention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to a cutting machine and more particularly to amachine for cutting sheet material that is coated with or contains asubstance having adhesive properties or tendencies.

Theinvention contemplates and has for its principal object the provisionof an improved machine especially adapted for the cutting of 4sheetmaterial Such as waxed paper or the like and to thereby eliminate thedifficulties and hazards previously encountered in the cutting of suchmaterial. The invention is particularly adapted for the cutting of waxedpaper and the preferred embodiment of the invention as will behereinafter more fully set forth provides an eicient and safe means forperforming operations that were heretofore time-consuming and relativelyhazardous. Waxed paper or like material is usually furnishedcommercially in rolls of considerable size and it was heretofore thepractice to unroll the paper, to fold it into sheets approximately thedesired size, and then to cut the folded sheets with an ordinary knife.Handling of the rolls of paper became a burdensome task and the cuttingof the sheets involved considerable hazard because of the use of theknives. According to the present invention the handling and cutting ofwaxed paper or the like is facilitated and the hazards inherent in theuse of knives are eliminated or substantially minimized.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an improvedmachine of the type referred to in which a table or similar support isadapted to carry sheets of material and has formed therein a channel orgroove in which the cutter travels so that the cutting edge thereof willnot directly engage the table and further so that a space is providedbetween the material and the table surface for the purpose of ypreventing the material from adhering to the table along the line ofcutting.

Another important object of the invention to provide means forunwrapping or unrolling the sheet material or the like from the rolls inwhich it is furnished and to wrap the material in folded, generally flatform on a reel so that it may be cut along either or both of its foldededges into sheets of the desired size. y VAnother object of theinvention is to provide a rotary cutter that may be reciprocated on asupport to cut the sheet material.

It is an important object of the invention to provide means to assistthe cutting operation by supplying to the material a medium, such as asolvent, having a tendency to eliminate or minimize the adhesivecharacteristics of the substance contained by the material.

The invention has for another object the provision of a rotary cuttercontained in a housing that is provided with means whereby the medium ofthe type referred to above may be supplied to the cutter and thence tothe material so that the substance with which the material is coated isprevented from adhering to the cutter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means in the form ofa safety shield mounted so that it is always in protective position.

The foregoing and other objects and desirable features of the inventionmay be more readily understood from the following detailed descripl tionof a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying sheets ofdrawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cutting machine; Fig. 2is a front elevational view of the ma#- chine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary transverse cross section takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the means forsupplying a solvent or the like to the cutter; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2 showing the relation between the cutter and the table.

Fig, 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 ofFig. 2 showing the bracket supporting the movable block.

The machine constructed according to the principles of the presentinvention preferably includes a table or support I0 disposed at aconvenient height above the floor and Supported on a plurality of legsin any suitable manner. At one end thereof the table is provided with apair of transversely spaced supports II providing bearings for theopposite ends of a transverse shaft I2. This shaft carries rotatablythereon a pair of coaxial spools I3 separated at their inner ends by acompression spring I4. Each spool is preferably slightly tapered and isprovided at its outer end with a disk or washer I5. The shaft and spoolsprovide means for rotatably carrying a roll of material such as waxedpaper or the like.- `Such afroll is indicated diagrammatically in thedrawings and is designated by the numeral screws 23 are threaded intothe central portion-of the shaft i9 and engage the inner portions of thereel plates 22. These setscrews thus serve to mount the reel plates foradjustment radially with respect to the axis of the shaft i9 along thecommon diameter on which the reel plates extend'.

One of the plates is preferably provided at its opposite ends with guidemembers 24 Which serve to guide the sheet material as it is transferredfrom the roll i3 to the reel 29. A crank 25 is keyed or otherwisesecured to the end of the-shaft I9 and serves as means by Which the reelmay be rotated in the bearings I3. Since the plates 22 occupy a commondiameter extending through the axis of the shaft I9 therel is providedmeans by which the paper may be unrolled from the roll i6 andtransferred to the reel 20 in folded, generally at form. |The paper maythen be cut along one or both of its folded edges; that is,

along the outer edges of one or both of the reel plates 22. It will beunderstood of course that several wraps are made on the reel so thatwhenl the material is cut as aforesaid several sheets result.

The structure just described performs a function that is preliminary tothe cutting of the sheets ultimately tol their desired sizes. For thepurpose of completing the cutting, there is provided a second cuttingmeans conveniently mounted in proximity to thev roll-supportingstructure I l-I 5 and the reel 2B.

The` table or support lll is provided at its uppers surface with aportion adapted to support a plurality of sheets of material that mayhave been previously prepared or cut on the reel 2G. The table isprovided at longitudinally spaced points on its upper surface with apairof upstanding brackets 25 and 2'! each having spaced vertical rods58 and 59I slidably supportingV blocks 6.6 and r 6! which carry theopposite ends of a pair of longitudinally running slide bars 28 thatprovide means for mounting a cuttingv means, indicated generally at 23.The cutting means includes a housing 30': provided with longitudinallyspaced portions, Sila and 30D, eachof which is formed with a pair ofvertically spaced, longitudinally running bores throughl which the slidebars 28 extend. This arrangement serves to mount the housing 3 8slidabl57 on thebars 28 for reciprocation in a vertical planelongitudinally of thetable HJ. The housing 39 includes also a forwardlyprojecting portion 30e which contains journaled therein a transverseshaft 3l extending at opposite sides of the housing. The shaft carriesat one end thereof for rotation therewith a rotary cutter 32. The blocks6) and 6l are movable vertically with respect to the table Ill so thatthe slide bars, and consequently the housing and cutter 32, may bedisposed at different heights above the table.

The housing 3G carries means, preferably power-operated, for driving therotary cutter 32 through the shaft 3l.. In the presentv instance, thedriving means takes the form of an air motor '4 l contained in a portion33 of the housing 30, having suitable connections to the shaft 3| torotate the same for driving the cutter 32. The motor is supplied withair under pressure through a flexible conduit 34 which enters thehousing portion 33 and the motor through a handle element 35 securedtothe housing of. thel motor 33. The handleelement includes a control 36 forregulating the ow of air to the motor 33. The combining of thehandle 35 and control member 36 in the same unit provides for convenientmeans by Which an operator may reciprocate the cutting means 29 on theslide bars 23 and at the same time control the speed of the cutter 32 byregulating the ow'of air to the motor. It Will be understood `of coursethat the particular type of motor set forth has been chosen only for thepurpose of. illustration andas a preferred expedient in the operation ofthe present embodiment of the invention. This power means may bereplaced with any equivalent orA suitable means as desired.

The cutter 32 isenclosedrina housing. 371 that is preferably formed ofsheet metal: and` which provides a complete enclosure ofthe cutterexcept at the bottom peripheral edge thereof at which point the housing31 is open soA thatv the cutting edge of the cutter may be disposed inclose prox.- imity to the upper flat surface.I of the table I0. Theupper portion of the housing 3'1 is provided with a suitablematerialsuch as felt, packing or the like, indicated generally at; 38,through which the cutting por-tion of the cutter passes as it rotates. Acontainer 39 is carried above the housingv 37 and includes aconnection40 through the housing 3'1 to the packing or wiper material38, The container is adapted to contain a supply of a medium such as asolvent having atendency to minimize the adhesive characteristics ofythe substancesthat coats or iscontaned by thel material to becut. Inxthepresentinstance, whereiny the machine is. adapted forv the cutting ofwaxed paper, lit has been found that. kerosene or coal oil. serves' as asuitable solvent. This, solvent is supplied throughthe conduit 4D to thepacking 38- andA thence to the peripheral cutting portion of the cutterv32. lAs the cutter cuts the sheet material,l the filmv of solventthereon is trans.- ferred to some extent to the material so that cuttingthereof is facilitated; At the. same time the wax or other, substance,that Would normally have .a tendency to accumulatecn the cutterl becauseof its adhesive characteristics-is wiped off the cutter'by means of thesaturated packing or wiper 3B.

The upper surface of the table I0 is provided With a longitudinalchannelinlwhich the peripheral cutting portion of the cutter travels asthe cutter is reciprocated on the sliderbars 23. This channelis'preferably formed by a pair of parallel, longitudinally running flatfmembers 4l spaced slightly apart at their inner edges. At one end of oneof the flat members 4| there is provided` a transversely. extendingangle b ar 42 rigidlysecured` to the upper surface of the table il). Theupturned edge o f the angle bar l42v and the proximate member 4Idelineate aspace on the surface of the table on which material may besupported preparatory to the cutting' operation', the upturned edgeofthe angle bar 42 servingas guide means for squaring the paper.

The opposite side of thel table Ill includes a laterallyextendingsupport 43 on 'whichl iscarriecl a transversely runningv gage ormeasuring bar 44, preferably graduated'in inches. and-hav;- lng itsinner endcisposed; adjacentrthercutting plane. As shown in Fig. 1, theinner end of the bar is disposed a half inch away from the cuttingplane, although the first graduation on the bar is actually one inchfrom the lcutting plane. The

measuring bar is slotted longitudinally thereof as at and carries foradjustment therein a gage member or block 4t.v This block may bepositioned at any desired point in the slot 45 according to the sizeofthe sheet to be cut.

The block 6I at one end of the table Ill has jjournaled therein a pulley41 on a transverse axis. A flexible element such as a rope or the like48 ,is connected at one end to the cutter-supporting .housing 30, istrained over the pulley 41, and has vits other end connected to acounterweight 48 preferably housed-in a vertically extending tube 49.Each of the slide bars 28 carries at its end ,adjacent the block Bl acompression spring serving to provide resilient stop means for theAcutter when it is moved to one end of its stroke.

An adjustable stop 5l including a compression spring 52 is mounted onone of the bars 28 at the .other end thereof `and serves as resilientstop Ameans for the cutter at the other end of the stroke.

The cutter housing 31 is provided with suitable `-means for shieldingthe lower peripheral portion .thereof so that the possibility that theoperator may be injured is eliminated. For this purpose the housing 31is provided with a transverse pivot .pin 53 on which is mounted aswinging member having a pair of arms 5|. Each arm extends ldownwardlyalong one side of the housing 31 and ting a lug 58 on the housing 31.The spring operates to urge the arms 54 in a clockwise direction, thusurging the safety shields 55 downward- 1y against the surface of thetable l0. When vsheets of material are passed across the longitudinallyrunning flat members 4I on the table and the cutter is then moved overthe material, the ysafety shields may move yieldingly upwardly,maintaining, however, their protecting relati-onship with respect to thecutter 32.

In the operation of the machine, a roll of material is mounted on thespindles I3 and the reel 20 is adjusted to the desired size. In apreferred use of the reel, the distance between the outer edges of thereel plates is adjusted so that this dis'- tance is one half the desiredsize of the sheets of material to be cut. Thus, as the reel is rotatedto unroll the material from the roll I6, the material is wrapped on thereel in folded, generally flat form. The reel is rotated until asufficient number of wraps have been taken thereon (which number willvary `according to the weight of the material) and the folded materialis then cut along one of its folded edges. The resulting sheets are thenunfolded and laid on the surface of the table lil Ybounded by themembers 4I and 42 as aforesaid. In this instance several sheets,depending upon their weight, may be cut at the same time. The adjustablemember 46 on the measuring bar 44 is set at the desired position and theseveral sheets of material are vmoved across the table lll until theleading edge of the material is aligned with the block 46. By means ofthe operating handle and control member 36 the operator applies power tothe cutter 32 and moves the cutter across the paper. This operation isrepeated as often as is necessary to supply .the desired number ofsheets. Because of the narrow channel provided by the closely spacedflat bars 4|, the material being cut is raised slightly above the trueplane of the table surface and there is thus provided a longitudinalspace below the material which serves to prevent the material fromadhering to the table along the line lof cutting; further, since thecutter runs in this channel, the material may be cut completely andthere is no possibility that the cutting edge will lengage the tablesurface.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the objects .setforth above are efficiently and simply achieved. Undoubtedly otherobjects and advantages of the invention will appear to those skilled inthe art. It will be understood of course that the foregoing descriptionpertains to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and thatnumerous modifications and alterations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

l. A machine for cutting sheet material coated or impregnated with waxor like substances, comprising a cutting table, a pair of supportscarried on said table in longitudinally spaced relationship andincluding upright portions extending above-the upper surface of saidtable, a longitudinal slide bar carried at its opposite ends in saidupright portions of said support, a housing carried by said slide barfor reciprocation thereon longitudinally of said table, said housingincluding means forming an opening at its under side in, close proximityto the upper surface of said table, a rotary cutter journaled in saidhousing and disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane and extendingthrough said opening in said housing, -power means for rotating saidcutter, means for reciprocating said housing on said slide bar andincluding a control for said power means, means including the uppersurface of said table for supporting material to be cut, means forming alongitudinal channel inthe upper surface of said table over which thesheet of material may be fed and into which the periphery of said cuttermay run as said housing is reciprocated on said slide bar, meansproviding a safety shield disposed adjacent the bottom of said housingat the portion thereof through which said cutter extends, means mountingthe safety shield on said housing for yielding upward movement as saidhousing is reciprocated over the material fed over the aforesaidchannel, a guide bar on said table including means for measuring andguiding the material to be cut, and means including an inlet in saidhousing for supplying to said cuttera medium having a solvent action onthe substance with which the materialis coated or impregnated.

2. A machine for cutting sheet material coated or impregnated with waxor like substances, comprising a cutting table, a pair of supportscarried on said table in longitudinally spaced relationship andincluding upright portions extending above the upper surface of saidtable, a longitudinal slide bar carried at its opposite ends in saidupright portions of said support, a housing carried by said slide barfor reciprocation thereon longitudinally of said table, said housingincluding means forming an opening at its under side in close proximityto the upper surface of said table, a rotary cutter journaled in saidhousing and disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane and extendingthrough said opening in said housing, means for rotating; said cutter,means for reciprocatingv said housing on said slide bar, means includingthe upperV surface of said table for supporting material to be cut,means providing a safety shield disposed adjacent the bottom of saidhousing at the portion thereof through which said cutter extends, andmeans mounting said safety shield on said housing for yielding upwardmovement as said housing is reciprocated over the material fed over theaforesaid channel, a guide bar on said table including; means formeasuring and guiding the material to be cut, and means including aninlet in said housing for supplying to said cutter a medium having asolvent action on the substance with l which the material is coated orimpregnated.

3. A machine for cutting sheetmaterial coated or impregnated with wax orlike substances, comprising. a cutting table, a pair of supports carriedon said table in longitudinally spaced relationship and includingupright portions extending above the upper surface of said table, alongitudinal slide bar carried at its opposite endsr in said uprightportions of said support, a housing carried by said slide bar forreciprocation thereon longitudinally of said table, said housingincluding means forming an opening at its under side in close proximity7to the upper surface of said table, a rotary cutter journaled in saidhousing and disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane and extendingthrough said opening in said housing, meansfor rotating said cutter,means including the upper surface of said table for supporting materialto be out, means forming a longitudinal channel in the upper surface ofsaid table over which the sheet of material may be fed and into whichthe periphery of said cutter may run as said housing is reciprocated onsaid slide bar, and a guide bar on said table including means formeasuring and guiding the material to be cut.

4. A machine for cutting sheet material coated or impregnated with waxor like substances, comprising a cutting table, a pair of supportscarried on said tablevin longitudinally spaced relationship andincluding upright portions extending above the upper surface of saidtable, a longitudinal slide bar carried at its opposite ends in saidupright portions of said support, a housing carried by said slide barfor reciprocation thereon longif tudinally of said table, said housingbeing formed with an opening at its under side in close proximity to theupper surface of said table, a rotary cutter journaled in said housingand disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane and extending through saidopening in said housing, means including the upper surface of said tablefor supporting material to be cut, means forming a longitudinal channelin the upper surface of said table over which the sheet of material maybe fed and into which the periphery of said cutter may run as saidhousing is reciprocated on said slide bar, meansproviding a safetyshield disposed adjacent the bottom of saidy housing at the portionthereof through whichy said cutter extends, and means mountingv saidsafety shield on said housing for yielding upward movement as saidhousing is reciprocated over the material fed over the aforesaidchannel.

5. A machine for cutting material coated or impregnated with wax or likesubstances, comprisingA a cutting table, a support positioned above theupper surface of said table, a cutter movably carried by said support,means including the upper surface of said table for supporting materialto be cut, means forming a longitudinal channel'in the upper surface ofsaid table over which the sheet of material may be fed and into whichsaid cutter may move in cutting the material, means providing a safetyshield disposed adjacent the upper surface of said table and inshielding relation to the cutting portion of said cutter as said cuttermoves to cut the material, and means mounting said safety shield foryielding upward movement upon contact with the material as the materialis fed over the aforesaid channel.

6. A device for cutting sheet material, comprising a power driven knifeenclosed by a reciprocably mounted housing opened at its underside; aforked rocker arm pivotally mounted on said housing at an intermediatepoint along its tines, the free end of each time pivotally carrying asafety shield adjacent the said open underside and spaced from the sidesof said housing, the closed end of said tines having resilientconnection with said housing urging said tines to maintainv said shieldsin protective relationship withv said open underside.

7. A machine for cutting sheet material comprising a cutting table, arotary cutter mounted for reciprocation above said table, a housing forsaid cutter reciprocable thereon and having an openingat its undersidein proximity to the upper surface of said table and through which saidrotary cutter extends; means providing a safety shield disposed adjacentthe bottom of said housing at the portion thereof through which saidcutter extends, and means mounting said safety shield on said housingfor yielding upward movement as said housing is reciprocated over thematerial to be cut.

WILBUR C. RACHELS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,675,247 Brust June 26, 19281,742,047 Moss Dec. 31, 1929 1,797,638 Collins et al Mar. 24, 19312,086,374 Wilrley July 6, 1937 2,117,025 Evans Feb. 28, 1938 2,130,332Davis Sept. 13, 1938 2,149,025 Marion et al. Feb. 28,A 1939 2,283,626Freydberg May 19, 1942

